When All Else Fails

Aria walked the hallways of her high school, for the millionth time over the past four years. She couldn't wait to get out of that place and finally be able to be with Ezra in public and not just his apartment. Well it was sort of like their apartment now, she stayed their practically every night, it was easy since her parents were divorced, she would just tell her dad that she was staying at her moms, and tell her mom the same thing. She walked past Ezra's classroom and she glanced in, knowing it was his free period. She caught his glance and he winked at her as he glanced up from grading papers at his desk.

"Earth to Aria, hello? Anybody home?" Spencer waved her hand in front of Aria's face.

"Wait, what? Sorry zoned out a little." Aria said with a slight laugh.

"I was just saying that you look a little sick, why don't you go home early?"

"Oh, no, I'm fine. Just tired." Aria lied through her teeth for what seemed like the hundredth time that week. Everyone kept asking her if she felt okay or if she was sick and frankly, Aria was getting annoyed. She was fine as far as everyone else was concerned. They just needed to let her live her own life.

"Well how about we come over after school and we can read trashy magazines and eat junk food? Hanna and Emily already said they're free."

"You know what, on second thought, you're right, I'm not feeling too well. I'll probably just go home and sleep." The girls were on their way to lunch, Aria's least favorite time of the school day.

"Aria, aren't you going to get something to eat?" Emily pointed out about ten minutes into lunch.

"I don't really feel that great, so I think I'm going to go home actually." Aria had to wait until her next class for her teacher to give her a pass for the nurse, she was not allowed to go right from lunch. The lunch period ended and Aria proceeded to her next class, English. She walked in and put her head down on her desk, waiting for her teacher to start class.

"Alright, today we will touch on Hemingway's background and how that influenced his writing. Um, Aria, do you need to go to the nurse?" Mr. Fitz asked, seeing as she couldn't even keep her head up.

"Yeah, thanks." Aria mumbled before getting up from her desk and grabbing her pass from her boyfriend. She walked to the nurse slowly, exerting the least amount of energy as possible. The nurse just took one look at her and sent her home. She went to Ezra's apartment because going to one of her houses was an ordeal she didn't want to deal with. She just wanted to sleep. She climbed in his bed and snuggled under the covers and fell fast asleep.

Ezra walked into his apartment at 4 pm, quietly closing the door. He had a feeling that Aria had come here. He tiptoed back to his bedroom seeing the girl he loved snuggled under his covers. He slightly smiled and went into the living room to grade some papers. Around 5:30 he started cooking dinner, spaghetti. It was ready at six and he decided to get Aria up.

"Hi sweet girl, I made dinner for us." Ezra whispered, tucking a piece of Aria's hair behind her ear.

"Do I have to?" Aria moaned.

"Well you should, but if you don't feel that well I guess you don't have to." Ezra shrugged.

"No, I'll come out." Aria followed Ezra out of his room and into the kitchen.

"Looks good babe." Aria said with a smile as he put the pasta on her plate.

"Thanks," Ezra kissed her head, sitting down, "So what was up today? Did you not feel well?"

"Yeah, just a little under the weather I guess." Aria muttered as she finished her dinner. The couple laid on the couch watching TV for the rest of the night. Around 8, Aria excused herself to use the bathroom.

Aria walked back to Ezra's bedroom to the connecting bathroom. She locked the door and turned the water on from the sink. She knelt by the toilet in an all too familiar way. She knew she had to be quick if she didn't want to Ezra to get suspicious. She stuck her right index finger down her throat, sparking her gag reflex. Soon the contents of her stomach were in the toilet. She heard a knock at the door and froze.

"Aria, babe, what's going on? Did you get sick? Can you unlock the door?" Ezra pleaded. Aria had to think on her feet. She knew that if Ezra found out that she hasn't been eating, and when she had to eat, it didn't stay in her stomach for long, he would be so worried and it really wasn't that big of a deal. She slowly flushed the toilet and turned the water off. Unlocking the door, she walked through the doorframe.

"Yeah, I guess dinner just didn't agree with me so much. Maybe I have a virus or something. I'm just going to lay down I think." Aria shrugged it off and went back to her spot on Ezra's queen bed.

"Why was the water running?" Ezra sat next to her on the bed.

"Oh, I was just putting some cold water on my face and then I got sick and didn't have a chance to turn it off." Aria thought well on her feet.

"Oh, well can I get you anything? Maybe a gingerale?"

"No, but you could scratch my back," Aria giggled as Ezra grinned. He did so willingly and eventually, Aria was asleep in his arms. 6 am rolled around pretty fast for the pair.

"Baby, I have to get up for work, do you think you're going to school today? Or are you still feeling sick?" Ezra nudged Aria.

"I think I might stay here today, is that okay?" Aria tiredly responded. Ezra nodded, kissed her head, and jumped in the shower to prepare for work.

Aria slept most of the day but around 3:45, Aria got up and decided to get a shower. She felt gross ever since she got sick last night. She felt lightheaded, not having anything to eat today. She turned the water to the coldest option and climbed in.

She let the water pour down over her naked body. All of a sudden she felt dizzy, so she grabbed the side of the shower to hold her up. Her hand slipped and she didn't feel herself hit the ground, as she had blacked out before.